Cheryl Schatz

Chris,

I would like you to show from the scriptures where those who have been deceived and because of their ignorance are teaching error are in the same category as the “savage wolves” (Acts 20:29), “deceitful workers” (2 Cor. 11:13) and are willingly participating in the “trickery of men” (Eph 4:14)?

The fact is for those who are willing to look at the scriptures for what it says, they will see that Paul is gentle with the deceived:

1 Tim 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,
1 Tim 1:4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.
1 Tim 1:5 **But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.**

…and harsh with the deceivers

1 Tim 1:20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

Paul considered himself one of the former who was eligible to receive mercy because he acted ignorantly in unbelief (his own testimony given in 1 Tim 1:14) so that through the one who was ignorant of the truth was given great grace and mercy by God as a way to show God’s great patience with sinners (1 Tim 1:16). To say that God treats all alike whether they are fully deceived or whether they are one of the deceivers makes God out to be unjust.

I stand by my comments and my exegesis. If I am wrong, I ask you to prove that I am wrong from the text itself.